I think today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders and young leaders have always played a crucial role in building a better world. My parents were activists in Tian’anmen Square in the 80’s.That has been a huge factor in me getting involved in the democratic process and never taking my freedoms for granted. It has definitely motivated me to go into public service and to become interested in international affairs.
As an Asian American, I am on the cusp of two cultures. I spent an entire year abroad in Taiwan just recently, where I really got to know myself a bit better. The greatest thing I learned is being true to who you are. I’ll never be completely Chinese, but at the same time I’m not going to sacrifice my cultural values or traditions in order to fit into mainstream American society. And it’s good to know that there are other people at this school that are in the same exact situation as I am, sort of like third-culture kids.
My multicultural background has definitely been a big part of who I am. I grew up in New Jersey. I was born in China. I go to school in the South, and I stay in touch with my cousins in Vienna, Austria and Oklahoma. When my family first moved to the US, a lot of us dispersed in different directions. Talking to my relatives and traveling to different places inside and outside the US has really ingrained in me an appreciation for different cultures.
Humans of William & Mary 